In kendo and life, we develop and acquire habits – automated and ingrained patterns of behaviors, actions and thoughts. It can be a challenge to modify them or adopt new ones. For example, some may discover a pattern of self-talk which attracts anxiety or fear just prior to shiai’s, interviews or presentations and possibly self-criticism afterwards. They may wish for thoughts which promote calmness, confidence and encouragement instead. Others may wish for a natural posture without a hunch, more use of the left arm instead of the right arm in strikes or the riddance of habits that opponents can take advantage of (e.g. predicable patterns such as movements of the shinai, feet or shinai to block or looking where to strike).
For those interested in learning more about habits, their importance and how to manage them, I’ve compiled a list of resources on this topic below organized as follows:
- About Habits in General
- The Importance of Developing “Good” Habits
- Ways to Change Habits
- Ways to Acquire New Habits
The principles and techniques therein can be applied to replace undesired habits and acquire new ones in and outside of kendo. I may update this page with additional resources in the future. Quotes on habits are listed under the section “On Habits” in Shinsa and Shiai – Quotes for Inspiration (Part 1) and Additional Quotes on Habits.
May these principles and the practice help empower and enrich your kendo and life!
About Habits in General
- Online
- William James, Chap IV on “Habit” from The Principles of Psychology, 1890.
- Habits: How They Form and How to Breath Them,” Fresh Air, Mar. 5, 2012.
- A brief poem which describes the process of changing habits (one of my favorites)
- Books:
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
- Appendix – A Reader’s Guide to Using These Ideas (“a framework for understanding how habits work and a guide to experimenting with how they might change.”) pp. 287-298.
- Robert J. Ringer, Million Dollar Habits, Ballantine Books, 1990.
- Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
The Importance of Developing “Good” Habits
- George McCall, “Practise may ingrain bad habits,” Kenshi247.net, Dec. 2009.
- A quote which describes the path to developing habits and the importance of thoughts: “Be Careful of Your Thoughts, …”
Ways to Change Habits
- Marie Hartwell-Walker, “7 Steps to Changing a Bad Habit,” PsychCentral.com.
- Leo Babauta, “The Habit Change Cheatsheet: 29 Ways to Successfully Ingrain a Behavior,” ZenHabits.net, Sept. 2009.
- Leo Babauta, “The Slow Secret: How to Make Lasting Changes in Your Life,” ZenHabits.net, Sept. 2009.
- James Clear, Transform Your Habits – Learn How Psychology Makes It Easier for You to Live Healthy and Actually Stick to Your Goals, 2nd Ed., 2013 (46 pages).
- Charles Duhigg, Flowchart of “How to Change a Habit”, 2014 (1 page).
- The Appendix “A Reader’s Guide to Using These Ideas” pp. 287-298 of Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Random House, 2014.
Ways to Acquire New Habits
- James Clear, “The 3 R’s of Habit Change: How To Start New Habits That Actually Stick.” (The intro is particularly poignant).
- Scott Young, “18 Tricks to Make New Habits Stick,” Lifehack.org.
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